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Blue Nile vs Helzberg Diamonds

To help you find the Best Jewelry Stores, TopConsumerReviews.com provides you with an in-depth comparison of Blue Nile and Helzberg Diamonds.

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What's the best Jewelry Store? Every year, almost 40 million people shop online for jewelry - and with good reason! Why stand in line for over an hour during a peak season like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, hoping that there might be something she'd like, when you can shop any time of day (or night) and get the world's best selection while sitting in your living room?

Today's best online jewelry stores make it almost unthinkable to shop at a local store. The lack of overhead with online jewelry means that they can bring you prices as much as 50% lower than what you'd find elsewhere. When you add in free shipping, extended return periods, and the same certifications and guarantees you get from a local jeweler, and it's easy to see why it makes sense to buy jewelry from an online store.

Jewelry Store Reviews

As Forbes magazine's "Favorite Online Jeweler", it should come as no surprise that Blue Nile also continues to come in first place as the best jewelry store on the internet - particularly for shoppers looking for engagement rings, diamonds in general, and fine jewelry overall. Blue Nile has an unmatched reputation for quality, attention to detail, best-in-industry pricing, and an exceptional level of customer service to nearly two
million
customers since its start in 1999.

Compared with other jewelry stores - both online jewelry stores and traditional brick-and-mortar jewelers - Blue Nile's selection is mind-blowing. In their one Seattle-area warehouse, they carry as much inventory as you'd find in almost 200 individual stores combined. And, within that same location, world-class jewelers and gemologists also craft customer-designed pieces; you can even see some of the most
recently-created jewelry featured on Blue Nile's main page.

Shopping Blue Nile's website couldn't be any easier. You can click directly to the pages that feature Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings and related gifts, Jewelry, or Gifts through the links at the top of the page. Within each of those categories, you'll also find dropdowns that include diamond shapes, types of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, and so forth), and more specific examples of what Blue Nile has
to offer. You can also have some fun with the Build Your Own Ring feature, where you have the option to start with a diamond or with a setting.

Across more than a dozen jewelry stores we surveyed, Blue Nile consistently had the lowest prices while still maintaining very high standards of quality:

Diamonds: every loose diamond comes with a grading report from the GIA, an independent diamond grading lab that is well-known for consistency and strict grading standards.

Diamond Jewelry: all diamonds set in Blue Nile pieces must be colorless to near colorless (D-I color grade) and have exceptional clarity (FL-I1 grade).

Pearl Jewelry: although there are no industry-standard grading scales for pearls, Blue Nile makes sure that each one is of excellent quality.

Platinum Jewelry: all platinum used by Blue Nile is 95% pure.

Blue Nile offers free shipping, free returns within 30 days of purchase, and a guarantee that they'll match the price of any comparable diamond you may find at another store.

Blue Nile also excels with respect to customer education about jewelry. You can easily learn about the 4 Cs of diamonds, how to choose a diamond, even how the stone's shape affects its price. You'll find those articles both in the dropdown boxes at the top of the page as well as on the site's homepage. Or, just click on the handy Education tab towards the upper right corner.

Not sure if your order went through? Have a middle-of-the-night question about what type of diamond would be best for your bride-to-be? Blue Nile may be the only jewelry store of this caliber to offer 24/7/365 live customer service. You can access live chat or their toll-free number at the top left corner of the site.

Blue Nile sets the bar very high, not just as the largest seller of engagement rings in America but across all types of fine jewelry. Along with their world-class selection of diamonds, and pricing that invariably beats the competition, Blue Nile continues to earn our highest rating as the best jewelry store.

100+ years. That's how long Helzberg Diamonds has been in the jewelry business, with the reputation to match as an accredited, A+ merchant with the Better Business Bureau. As you're probably aware, Helzberg has numerous retail locations throughout the United States - but for the widest selection, you'll want to visit their online storefront rather than heading to the mall.

That selection is very broad, ranging from traditional engagement and wedding options to earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, and much more. Helzberg also carries one of the widest inventories of today's most desired brands, such as watches by Movado and Tissot, EFFY diamonds, and even Disney Fine Jewelry. And, if you're looking for a deal, be sure to check out the Clearance tab at the top of the page.

Once you narrow down what type of jewelry you want, you'll be able to quickly narrow down the options according to price, metal, stone shape or type, or any other applicable criteria on the left side of the results. But, if you're the kind of shopper who just wants to get something tried, true, and trending, most categories have a "Top 25" section so that you can see what many other shoppers have liked.
Or, look at
the average customer rating on the items that catch your eye; because Helzberg is one of the larger jewelry stores in the nation, you'll likely find many more reviews on individual pieces than you might see in a more boutique-level business.

As the name suggests, Helzberg does specialize in diamonds. Choosing an engagement ring can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, from shopping the Top 25 to designing your own one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality piece. Helzberg has over 600 engagement rings to browse, ranging in price from $500 to $20,000, or click on the Create Your Own link to start by choosing the ideal diamond, gemstone, or setting. Be patient:
Helzberg has over 30,000 certified diamonds, thousands of settings, 30 different colored gemstones that can be combined for your one perfect ring.

When you sign up for the Helzberg email list, you'll get a coupon code for a savings of $25 off your first purchase of $99.99 or more. For additional savings, keep your eyes open as you browse the site; on the day we shopped, there was a promotional code at the top of the page for a savings of $100 off $399.99; that code alternated with a "buy one, get one free" promotion as well. (This last one applied
to ‘select
styles only" no two-for-one engagement rings here!)

Additional discounts are available to anyone who is active duty or retired military, or a registered dependent of an active/retired member of the military. Be sure to call the toll-free number before you make your purchase, and you'll get a code for a 10% discount (but it can't be combined with any other promotion; it's also not valid on loose diamonds or custom gemstone jewelry).

Helzberg is one of only a few higher-end jewelry stores that doesn't offer free shipping on every order: you'll have to spend at least $149.99 for that perk. Otherwise, expect to spend $9.95 for a delivery from 5-7 business days from the time your order ships. Or, if you happen to have a brick-and-mortar location close enough to drive, you may be able to select the free "Pick Up In-Store" option on some
items.

On the other hand, Helzberg's return policy is more generous than many of their competitors': you have 60 days to return and/or exchange your purchase, rather than the standard 30 offered by most stores. This policy is shortened to 30 days for watches, which must be unworn and in like-new condition.

Helzberg Diamonds takes the stress out of shopping for jewelry by giving customers the best possible selection at just the click of a mouse - with hundreds of retail locations for easy returns or questions if you should need it. Their selection, reputation, and pricing make them a top-rated jewelry store. Helzberg earns one of our highest rankings.

Of course, not every jewelry store is the same. Some specialize in "fashion" or "costume" jewelry; if you're looking for an inexpensive piece just to add some sparkle to a fun evening, or maybe an imitation item that won't break your heart if it gets lost, this type of jewelry might be perfect. Those stores are less likely to sell luxury, high-priced jewelry with precious metals and gemstones,
however - so
you may need to select a store that specializes in heirloom-quality craftsmanship and materials.

As you begin your search for the ideal online jewelry store, what should you keep in mind? Here are several criteria that can help you make your decision:

Selection. What does the store carry? Is it a limited range of rings, necklaces and earrings, or do they have options for men and children too?

Prices. How does the jewelry store measure up to the competition? Do they offer free shipping, pop-up discount offers, or any other promotions?

Quality. What do customers say about the jewelry they've purchased? Does it last, or have stones fallen out after a few wears? Are items marked as "diamond" authentic, or are they synthetic stones?

Return Policy. If you don't like the necklace, ring, or watch after you've received it, can it be returned? Will you have to pay a restocking fee?

Reputation. Are customers generally happy with their experience, both with the jewelry they received and with the customer service department if help was needed? Is the company easy to reach if there's a problem? Does the store have a rating with the BBB?

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best jewelry stores available today. Whether you're shopping for an engagement ring, a necklace for your significant other, or just a new bit of sparkle to add to your collection, we hope these reviews will help you find the right piece of jewelry at the right price!

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